Pauline Liu: Harsh lesson about dangers of drugs

Last week, students in the Ellenville and Valley Central School Districts learned a lesson in school that was not taught in the classroom. The news that two stepbrothers, ages 13 and 15, died of apparent drug overdoses left both school communities reeling. For those of us who are parents, our hearts go out to the families bec...

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By Pauline Liu

recordonline.com

By Pauline Liu

Posted Feb. 4, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By Pauline Liu
Posted Feb. 4, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

Last week, students in the Ellenville and Valley Central School Districts learned a lesson in school that was not taught in the classroom. The news that two stepbrothers, ages 13 and 15, died of apparent drug overdoses left both school communities reeling. For those of us who are parents, our hearts go out to the families because none of us can envision a greater nightmare than the death of a child. In this case, it was twice the anguish, made even more painful by the realization the disaster was so preventable.

Confidentiality policies due to the boys' young ages and regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act made it difficult to find out details surrounding their deaths. Among the brothers' core group of friends and acquaintances, the news the boys may have consumed a variety of controlled substances at their father's home in Montgomery spread like wildfire. The brothers were found unconscious and unresponsive. They died within a day of one another.

Toxicology tests are being done to find out what combination of substances they consumed before they apparently overdosed on methadone, which is synthetic heroin.

Town of Montgomery Police Chief Arnold Amthor said the investigation almost is complete and no criminal charges are expected to be filed.

"The two young men were experimenting with narcotics that were legally prescribed to someone else," said Amthor. "Our investigation shows that they were online researching the symptoms of overdosing and corresponding with acquaintances during the period of time that the incident occurred."

For students, the deaths are a cautionary tale about drug abuse. Though several of them managed to talk with me about the subject with little or no emotion in their voices, it was clear some of them were shaken by the tragedy. It also is a cautionary tale for parents because we all need to be mindful of our children's activities. We also should be having continuing conversations with our kids about the dangers of substance abuse. Just one talk is not enough.

Coincidentally, the Ellenville School District is preparing to take part in a new anti-drug campaign in conjunction with the Ulster Prevention Council. While many anti-drug campaigns wind up with mixed results, this one is county funded and aimed at grown-ups. The slogan is, "Be aware. Don't share. Lock your meds." Students from Ellenville will be doing voiceovers that will air on radio stations.

It would be remarkably disingenuous to say that such a program could have spared the two brothers. All people can do is speculate, which is not at all constructive. It's too soon to tell if such a campaign will be successful, but the effort to spread awareness will soon be under way.

While much of my work as an education columnist and reporter focuses on issues in the classroom, there are important lessons to be learned from this case for students and parents alike. If taken to heart, they could save other lives.